According to reporting by El País and confirmed by defense officials, preliminary discussions for the acquisition of the fifth-generation F-35 fighters have been “indefinitely” suspended. Although Madrid allocated €6.25 billion in its 2023 budget for the replacement of aging air and naval platforms, it has now ruled out pursuing the American platform.

The Spanish Navy, which had expressed interest in the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant to replace its AV-8B Harrier fleet by 2030, will now wait for FCAS readiness. The Air Force, which had considered the F-35A as a stopgap solution to replace its older McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets, will also look to the Eurofighter as a temporary fill-in.

The Defense Ministry’s decision underscores a growing commitment to intra-European defense industrial autonomy and comes amid political tensions with the United States over NATO burden-sharing targets. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has repeatedly voiced skepticism over the Trump-led push to raise NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Transatlantic Strains Over Defense Procurement

Madrid’s cancellation of F-35 acquisition plans may further complicate U.S.-Spain defense relations. Lockheed Martin, which had been positioning the F-35 as a solution to both air force and naval needs in Spain, now faces another loss in Europe amid increased competition from European defense consortiums.

Spain’s move also aligns with broader EU efforts to prioritize domestic defense production and limit reliance on U.S. arms. While the FCAS program remains in development, with deployment projected for the 2035–2040 timeframe, Spain’s renewed commitment to the Eurofighter offers an interim solution aligned with EU defense strategy.

The announcement highlights how defense procurement decisions are increasingly influenced by political alignment and budgetary nationalism, as Europe navigates shifting security priorities under renewed U.S. pressure.